Florida Insurance Claims Lawyer Blog

West Palm Beach car accidents injure thousands of residents every year. While the total number of fatalities caused by these crashes has decreased slightly over the past decade the total number of accidents has remained constant. Unfortunately, negligent driving remains as prevalent in our area as ever before. It is only through superior safety designs by car manufacturers that fewer lives are lost in area accidents. Our Palm Beach car accident lawyer works with many victims who have been hurt by the driving mistakes of others.

In an effort to crack down on dangerous driving, local law enforcement officers have installed red light cameras at many intersections. The cameras are designed to catch local travelers who drive through a red light. A photo is snapped upon each violation that allows authorities to identify the car's license plate number and issue citations. An investigation by WPTV News found that over the past 18 months Palm Beach County officials have handed out over 20,000 tickets to drivers caught by the red light cameras. That represents over $3 million in fines.

Law enforcement officials suggest that the main purpose of the cameras is to crack down on accidents. However, there is disagreement about whether these cameras actually make it less likely that area residents will be involved in a Palm Beach car accident. A nationwide study recently found that the cameras may have caused a slight decrease in overall crashes. Yet, a 2008 study focused specifically on Florida did not find any such benefits from these red light cameras.

A WPTV News study examining accident rates in Palm Beach country revealed mixed results. At two intersections the total number of accidents dropped by 33% and 36% following installation of the cameras. However, at one intersection accidents actually increased by 100% after the installation. In many other locations there was no noticeable change in crashes after the cameras were placed on the lights.

On one hand, proponents of the cameras explain that residents are slowing down earlier and stopping short of the white line in order to avoid triggering the camera. However, one local official who is opposed to the cameras said, "In my opinion, they're [red light cameras] going to cause more rear-end collisions." Whatever the case, it is important for the data to be accurately studied so that changes can be made if necessary to ensure that the focus is kept on what matters--reducing Florida traffic accidents.

Continue reading "Disagreement Over Whether Red Light Cameras Prevent Palm Beach Car Accidents" »

Our Palm Beach injury lawyer has worked with many individuals who have been harmed because of poor property maintenance. Visitors have a reasonable expectation that their surroundings are safe when they are shopping at the grocery store, walking through a public building, or even visiting another's home. Owners and operators of spaces generally have a duty to warn visitors of certain dangers that exist in the area and makes changes to eliminate those dangers. They can reasonably be held responsible for the harm caused when they fail in this duty.

Maintaining a safe environment is particular important in public places where many people may be exposed to the risks. That is why a recent story in the Sun Sentinel regarding repeated safety violations at Palm Beach County schools is particularly alarming. The schools have come under intense scrutiny after a report noted that a staggering 2,837 violations had been found by a fire marshal.

Many of those problems were substantial structural and maintenance deficiencies--placing students at an unacceptable risk of injury. For example, one school, Lake Worth High, had 85 individual violations. Some rooms at the school were inaccessible to the fire department and had inoperable alarm systems. The school had been cited eight previous times for failure to fix the alarms system, yet the problem remains unresolved. Upon hearing the report one school board member explained, "I was hoping it would be little things, like a tear in the carpet, a loose doorknob, but some of the things that I found were pretty serious."

Some of the problems are easily fixed while other will require detailed action plans. However, even some of the more simple changes have been cited year after year without correction. One school has safety doors that swing in the wrong direction--they have been cited for the problem for 14 straight years without change. Other problems include blocked exits, improperly illuminated exit signs, and barbs on fences.

A Palm beach lawsuit filed after one is hurt because property was not reasonably maintained is known as a "premise liability" case. These cases are a specific type of negligence claim where property owners fail to exercise the reasonable care required by law. They often arise when someone slips and falls, when inadequate security measures are taken, if individuals are exposed to dangerous mold, and many similar situations. Our Florida premise liability attorney is capable of helping victims of these incidents receive compensation for their losses.

The medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by these accidents can add up quickly--often putting families in dire financial straits. The law was crafted and refined over the years specifically to provide relief in these situations to those injured through no fault of their own. If you find yourself in this situation, it is important to at least visit a Palm Beach injury attorney, share your story, and learn how the rules apply in your particular case.

See Our Related Blog Posts:

Government Report Reveals Prevalence of Preventable Florida Medical Errors

Palm Beach Car Accident Attorney Explains Potential Dangers with Used Car Recalls

Florida medical malpractice has severe consequences on the lives of those affected. It is unacceptable for patients to visit a hospital to receive treat for an ailment only to get even more ill because of poor medical care. Unfortunately, these hospital errors occur much more frequently than most residents imagine.

ABC Action News reported last week on a new government report which shines a spotlight on the quality--or lack thereof--of many local hospitals. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) released information that shares the total number of "hospital acquired conditions" (HACs) reported at area facilities. These are infections and other ailments that a patient develops while they are staying in a hospital to seek aid for a separate condition. Research indicates that virtually all HACs can be prevented if hospitals follow proper prevention standards and guidelines. Common HACs include: air embolisms, blood incompatibilities, catheter-associate urinary tract infections, pressure ulcers, vascular catheter-associated infections, and many others.

Unfortunately, this HAC report reveals that Florida medical malpractice occurs more frequently than many imagined. Some area hospitals scored poorly for preventable infections, bed sores, and similar HACs. A few facilities had five to ten times higher rates of these errors than the national average. When discussing statistics like this it is important to keep the focus of on the patients involved. It is easy to get mired down in data. However, the fact remains that each mistake represents another Florida family that has suffered increased pain, suffering, worry, and loss. Preventable Florida medical mistakes have real consequences on real lives.

In fact, the figures listed in the CMS data only include errors that were actually reported by administrators. Many medical mistakes are never officially documented, and so the total number of errors is likely much higher than listed here. The latest figures that attempt to account for all medical errors estimates that a staggering 100,000 patients are killed every year across the country because of preventable medical malpractice.

Release of reports like this one are a step in the right direction to tackle the problem. As one of the authors of the research explains, "If you give people more information, they can make better decisions on where to go for care." Hospitals are often reluctant to share information on mistakes with the public. However, nothing is more important to community members than their health, and so it is logical for residents to have access to as much information as possible to help them make informed choices about their medical care.

Continue reading "Government Report Reveals Prevalence of Preventable Florida Medical Errors" »

News continues to spread about the dangers posed to premature infants by the Simply Thick gel. As we have frequently explained, the product is under investigation for causing deadly intestinal problems in infants given the gel either at the hospital or at home. The problem is not regional, as our Simply Thick attorney is working with families across the country who have suffered problems linked to the product.

Earlier this week, WTHR News published a story on one girl that is involved in the FDA Investigation that remains underway following the voluntary Simply Thick recall. The now nineteen-month old child, Hannah Konkle, had to fight for her life after suffering from the intestinal disease known as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

The child's mother explained, "She started having a bloated stomach. She stopped stooling and on February 9th we were admitted to Riley's Children's Hospital and she subsequently had surgery for a disimpaction." The young girl would ultimately have to undergo two surgeries before her condition stabilized.

The family immediately suspected that some outside substance must have caused her problem. The mother noted that "it had to be something she was ingesting. It had to be, because we're talking about her bowel. It has to be something she's ingested."

At the time that problems began the young girl was consuming up to 18 packets of Simply Thick each day. However, it wasn't until a few months later--in May--that the recall was issued. The family contacted the FDA upon learning about the problem and within two days FDA investigators visited the family and shared their suspicions about the potential connection between their daughter's problems and Simply Thick. The family then learned how two infants had already died from NEC and at least fifteen other cases were under investigation.

The recall affected Simply Thick packets that were manufactured at a plant in Stone Mountain, Georgia. All of the packets that Hannah consumed were included in the recall. The FDA noted at the time that the Simply Thick recall was "a result of the company's failure to ensure that harmful bacteria of possible public health significance were destroyed in the manufacturing process at that manufacturing plant."

Continue reading "Injured Toddlers At Center of Simply Thick Investigation" »